Rotary explosive engine



T. E. BRALEY ROTARY ExPLosIvn ENGINE Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,518

Filed Doc. a, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 j 5V j@ o f V3I* /3 "f5 @1w/PJ@ C@ Il 'i Jil/Wahl;

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T. E. BRALEY ROTARY ExPLosIvz ENGINE Filed Dec. 8, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tag 3 I 42 3l 30 w29/ess.' l

- haz/img Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,518 T. E. sRALgY ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE Filed DOC. 8, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ug. 31, 1926.

ATENT OFFCE.

THOMAS E. BRALEY, 0F WC-IITA, KANSAS.

ROTARY EXPLOSEVE ENGINE.

Application filed December 8, 1923.

My invention' relatesV to improvements in rotary explosive engines. One of the objects of my invention is to provide in an engine of the kind describedhaving a rotary crank shaft, a rotor member having pistons reciprocativel in cylindersprovided in the rotaryl member, ofnovel means for transmitting rotation vfrom the crank shaft to 'the rotor member.

A further objectof Amy invention is the provisionof n'ovel'means by which rotation of the rotor member is effected in a direction reverse "thedirection of rotation of the crank shaft, whereby the effect of torque due to the rotation of the `rotary member is counteracted.

Another objectof myinvention comprises a. novelarrangenlrent of the cylinders in the rotor member, whereby a central direct thrust isobtained between the vpistons and the cranks of the crankshaft.

A further'fobject cfm-y' invention is the provision in an engine having radial cylinders in different pathsof rotation, of ignition means arranged to iirethe charges centrally in the 'respective cylinders, and in the same plane ltransverse to' the planes of r0- tation ofthe cylinders.

A further objectfof-my invention is" to pro\1icle"'novel means fort'air cooling the cyli'nders.

Still'anot'herobject of my invention is the provision in ail-'engine of thel kind described, of a construction which is simple, relatively cheap' to' make, strong and durable, not liableI to get out of' order, which operates With a minimum of friction, is compact, and which has a maximum of el'liciency.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a rotor memberhaving cylinders provided with open outer ends arranged to be closed` by the 'casing in Which the rotor 'member revolves.

` Still another object of my invention is the provision of novell means'for effecting nonleakin-g joints betweenthe cylinders of the rotor'niember and the casi'ng'in which the latter revolves.

The'novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying draiv'ings, Which illustrate the lpreferred embodimentof my invention,

Fig. 1` is an elevation looking at one end of my 'improved-engine.

rotation.

Serial N0. 679,353.

Fig. 2 is `an elevation looking at the opposite end thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical section of the' same.

Fig. 4 isa section on the line 4 4 of Figp is a plan vievv,vpartly broken away, of the rotor member. l

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different vievvs.

1 designates the body of the engine comprising a casing member having a circular periphery of which hasl an intake port 2 and an. exhaust port 3, WithV Which respectively 'which is mounted a rotary crank shaft 8,

havin-g equal radially spa-ced cranks 9, 10, 11 and 12,*resp`ectively inv different planes of TheA shaft 8 may have the usual flywheel, not shown'. l

A" rotormeniber mounted in the body, 1 has a central hub 13 rotatable on the shaft 8 "andv from` which extend'e'qually spaced? radial cylinders 14, 15, 16 andy 17, in the planes respectively'of rotation of the cran'rks'Q, k10, 11 "and 12. The rotor me'niber has a Circular' rim 1S, rotatably' fitted in the body 1. rllhe cylinders have open outer ends arranged tor be closed by the inner periphery'of the body 1 excepting during the times thatithe cylinders communicate lwith the ports 2 and 3. Y

Respectively reciprocative in the "cylin-` ders`14, 15, 161 and 17 are pistons 19, 20, 21, and 22, respectively connected in the usual manner by' connecting rods' 23, 24,'25and 26, to the cranks 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Iii-order that each charge in each cylinder may be ignited in Vthecentra-l'plane 'of rotation of the cylindercontaining it, the body 1, as shown in Fig. 3, has ignition openings 27, 28, 29 and 30, arranged in the same transverse plane, preferably centrally intermediate of tlie ports 2 and 3, andrespectively in the central planes vvof rotation of the cylinders 14,155,116 and v17,V and respectively communicating therewith during each rotation of the'rotor member.

In the said ignition openings 27, 28, 29 and 30, are suitable ignition devices, such )ark plugs 31, 32, 33 and 34. The timing mechanism, not shown, may be of any ordinary type, arranged to eti'ect theoperation of the spark plugs when the cylinders respectively' aline therewith. As each spark plug is in the central plane of revolution of the cylinder with which it cooperates, reliable.' liring of the charges is effected and a maximum of advance or retardation of the tiring sparks is obtained.

As the ignition openings are located in the same transverse plane, which is parallel with the axis of rotation, of the rotor member, the same charge compressing and exploding effect is obtained in all of the cylinders.

Means is provided for transmitting rotation from the crank shaft 8 to the rotor member. Such means preferably provides for the rotation of the rotor member in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the crank shaft, whereby the torque, due to rotation of the rotor member, is counteracted.

l he means for transmitting` rotation from the crank shaft to the rotor member may comprise the following described mechanism.

ltigidly secured to the crank shaft 8, Fig. 3, is a bevel gear wheel 35, which meshes with two diametrically opposite intermediate bevel gear wheels 36 and 37, which are respectively rotatable on alined studs 38 and 39, mounted in the bracket 6.

The gear wheels 36 and 37 mesh with a bevel gea-r wheel 40 which is rotatable on the shaft 8, and which is rigidly secured to the hub 13 of the rotor member.

Open air spaces are provided between thev cylinders, and in such air spaces are respectively disposed fan blades 41, which preferably extend from the hub 13 to the rim 18, and which are oblique to the plane of rotation of the rotor member. Upon rotation of the latter, the blades 41 will produce a current of air which passes through the open spaces between the cylinders and in contact with and effecting coolingl of the latter.

The body 1 may have in proximity to the ignition openings a water chamber 42, which effects cooling of that port-ion of the body, and which has connected to it a water supply pipe 43, and a water discharge pipe 44.

Each of the cylinders 14, 15, 16 and 17 may terminate in the rim portion 18 with an outwardly beveled seat in which is fitted a beveled transversely divided packing ring 45, having an arcuate outer side and having an inside diameter less than the diameter of the cylinder in which it is located, and which is adapted to be held by internal pressure exerted on its inner side against the inner periphery of the body 1, thereby providing a tight non-leaking joint between the adjasuming that the rotor member is to revolve clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, fuel will be supplied through the pipe 4 to the port 2. is the rotor member is revolved in said direction, the cylinders 17, 14, 15 and 16 will consecutively pass the port 2, and when so passing, explosive charges will be consecutively drawn, by the inward movements of the pistons, into the cylinders, and these charges will be compressed, after the cylinders pass the port 2, and will be fully compressed by the outward movement of the pistons when the cylinders respectively communicate with the ignition openings 27, 28, 29 and 30.

The spark plugs 34, 31, 32 and 33 will ellect consecutive ignition of the compressed charges in the different cylinders, thereby forcing the pistons inwardly consecutively. The inward movement of the pistons will effect rotation of the shaft 8 in one direction by means of the connecting rods 23, 24, 25 and 26, and the cranks with which they respectively connect. The rotation of the crank shaft 8 will, by means of the gear wheels 35, 36, 37 and 40, eect rotation of the rotor member in the opposite direction. As the crank shaft revolves in one direction and the rotor member in the opposite direction, the torque produced by the rotation of each of these members will counteract the torque produced by the rotation of the other member.

Vhen the cylinders reach the position of the cylinder 14, as shown in Fig. 4, the pistons will have reached the inner ends of their strokes and will start outwardly, thus expelling the exploded charges into the exhaust port 3, with which the exhausting cylinder at the time will communicate. The exhaust will escape through the pipe 5.

l do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

W' hat I claim is 1. In a rotary engine, a casing member, a. member having a cylinder having an open end arranged to be closed by said casing member, said members being relatively rollO tatable with respect to eaoh other, and a resilient transversely divided movable paeking ring iitted in said cylinder and having a bearing against said easing member and at its periphery against said cylinder.

2. In a rotary engine, a easing member, a member having a cylinder having an open end arranged to be closed by said easing member, said open end having an outwardly Haring seat, said members being rotatable relatively to each other, and a movable transversely divided resilient packing ring held compressed in said seat and bearing against said Casing member and against said seat.

3. In a rotary engine, a casing member,

having a circular inner periphery, a member having a Cylinder having an open end arranged to be closed by said easing member, said cylinder at its open end having an arcuatel annular outwardly flaring seat, said members being rotatable relatively to each other, and al jacking ring having a beveled periphery litted to said seat and having an arcuate outer side iitting against the inner periphery oi' said Casing member, the packing ring being transversely divided, resilient, and held compressed in said seat.

In testimony WhereorI I have signed my name to this speeieation.

THOMAS E. BRALEY. 

